An account of the wildlife I come across and hopefully pictures to bring the account closer

Wednesday, 31 October 2012

Monday 29th. October 2012

Firstly , many thanks to Neil , Alan P , Ken and Alan W , for correcting my raptor ID on my last post . I will still have to wait for a Bromley Marsh Harrier , and settle for Com. Buzzard this time .A quick catch up on a trip to Sevenoaks Reserve and surrounding area on Monday .

Everything was still dripping when I arrived , and even caught the Little Egrets in bed .

A nice show of Tawny Funnel Cap / Clitocybe flaccida along the main track .

It wouldn't surprise me if the Rose-ringed Parakeets aren't still nesting , with two females guarding their nest holes . A male was on sentry duty in the trees above .
Siskin numbers are on the increase on the site , having seen a flock of 50+ over Long Lake , and also half a dozen Lesser Redpolls close to Willow Hide . In the same areas I had three sightings of Kingfisher , but didn't get a shot of any of them .

In Tyler Hide , a Blue Tit was in panic mode trying to find a way out , having flown in the open entrance , but obviously unable to relocate the opening . It seemed relieved when I gently caught it and released it outside .

Good numbers of Clouded Agaric / Clitocybe nebularis on the way to Tower Hide .
The rest of the visit was very quiet . With the early darkness approaching , I decide to try for a pair of

Barn Owls that a friend had told me about , on the way photographing a very well marked Common Buzzard . Shortly after arrival , I met up unexpectedly with him . We made our way to the site and waited , with a constant threat of rain , which came , but with the added

bonus of a rainbow . After a lot of waiting , and thoughts that neither would show , the female

appeared and perched on a fence post in the fading light . No sign of the male , but she started to

quarter the surrounding fields . She then perched on another fence post , quizzically looking into the

surrounding grassland . Eventually she swooped down into the grass , but failed to get her meal . A few more minutes quartering , then a Magpie started giving her grief , and she disappeared . We waited hoping she would return , but she didn't . But I'm sure I will be returning , especially when the Winter takes hold and they might well be forced to hunt during daylight hours .

3 comments:

A lovely mixture and some great photos Greenie. You may have helped me out with some fungi I saw yesterday although I have still to look at my photos properly. Thanks to you I recognised Candlesnuff fungi the other week after seeing it on your blog that very day! I do find fungi ID quite challenging.

Lovely R-r P photos and very well done on the Barn Owl, I haven't even had a glimpse of one for a long time and never a photo so I'm very envious. Well done also for rescuing the Blue Tit!